Thu 4 Feb 2010

Gleanings from the Book of Job 18:1-19:29

Posted @ 3:55 pm      {Click to post comment} 
Category: Studies
Praying the name of God…
God you are our advocate, healer, defender, savior and shepherd.  You are the Shophet of the universe; our judge to administer justice when we have been wronged.  We know you will judge all men in Truth.  Your perfect justice will prevail.  May we place our trust in you, and know you as Job knew you, that no matter what happens we can know that our redeemer lives and have total confidence that we will see you in the flesh.  As Job awaited justice from you, his Shophet, may we wait patiently for your return and your justice in this world.
 
Shophet (sho-PHAIT) – Justice is ultimately rooted not in a collection of laws or rules but in the very character and nature of God. As judge of the whole earth, He is the only One competent to measure the motivations of our hearts. In the Hebrew Scriptures the work “judge: is often parallel to the work “king”. When we pray to God our Shophet, we are praying to the One whose righteousness demands perfect justice but who has also provided a way for us to be acquitted through the life, death and resurrection of his Son. Praying the Names of God – Ann Spangler 2004 Zondervan Publishing

 
Bildad and Job Dialogue a Second Time
Bildad admonishes Job that the “world order” will not change for him
Don’t treat our words as from a foolish man

Chapter 18
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered:
2 “How long until you make an end of words?
      You must consider, and then we can talk.
3 Why should we be regarded as beasts,
      and considered stupid in your sight?
4 You who tear yourself to pieces in your anger,
      will the earth be abandoned for your sake?
      Or will a rock be moved from its place?



Q: How does this relate to what Bildad last said in v8:3?



<= THESIS – Bildad says Job is fighting to change the world order in his demand for a new way of looking at God, man and the wicked

The fate of the wicked

5 “Yes, the lamp of the wicked is extinguished;
      his flame of fire does not shine.
6 The light in his tent grows dark;
      his lamp above him is extinguished.
7 His vigorous steps are restricted,
      and his own counsel throws him down.


Lamp = symbolizes life and prosperity

8 For he has been thrown into a net by his feet
      and he wanders into a mesh.
9 A trap seizes him by the heel;
      a snare grips him.
10 A rope is hidden for him on the ground
      and a trap for him lies on the path.
Net, mesh, trap, snare, rope, trap…
Q: What do you think Bildad is telling Job?

11 Terrors frighten him on all sides
      and dog his every step.
12 Calamity is hungry for him,
      and misfortune is ready at his side.
13 It eats away parts of his skin;
      the most terrible death devours his limbs.
14 He is dragged from the security of his tent,
      and marched off to the king of terrors.
15 Fire resides in his tent;
      over his residence burning sulfur is scattered.
16 Below his roots dry up,
      and his branches wither above.
17 His memory perishes from the earth,
      he has no name in the land.
18 He is driven from light into darkness
      and is banished from the world.
19 He has neither children nor descendants among his people,
      no survivor in those places he once stayed.
20 People of the west are appalled at his fate;
      people of the east are seized with horror, saying,
21 ‘Surely such is the residence of an evil man;
      and this is the place of one who has not known God.’ “





Q: What is Job’s physical condition?  How might Job interpret what is being said to him?









Q: How many of Job’s descendents are there remaining?


Bildad: The wicked man gets what’s coming to him

Q: What might Bildad implying about Job’s relationship with God?
Re-read Job 8:20-22 – Was Bildad saying Job in the camp of the righteous or the wicked?
Q: In light of Bildad’s first speech why do you think Bildad goes on and on about the fate of the wicked?
Q: Do you think Bildad’s motives warrant the “bad form?” (i.e. reference to physical condition and children)
Job cries foul

…unfair attacks from friends
Chapter 19
1 Then Job answered:
2 “How long will you torment me
      and crush me with your words?
3 These ten times you have been reproaching me;
      you are not ashamed to attack me!






10 times = (idiom) round number that conveys the idea of “frequent” (Cf. Num 14:22, Dan 1:20)

4 But even if it were true that I have erred,
      my error remains solely my concern!
5 If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me
      and plead my disgrace against me,
6 know then that God has wronged me
      and encircled me with his net.
Q: If Job did sin did he sin against them?

Q: Do you agree with Job?  How do you reconcile this with James 5:19-20?

8 He has blocked my way so I cannot pass,
      and has set darkness over my paths.
9 He has stripped me of my honor
      and has taken the crown off my head.
10 He tears me down on every side until I perish;
      he uproots my hope like one uproots a tree.
11 Thus his anger burns against me,
      and he considers me among his enemies.
12 His troops advance together;
      they throw up a siege ramp against me,
      and they camp around my tent.
13 “He has put my relatives far from me;
      my acquaintances only turn away from me.
14 My kinsmen have failed me;
      my friends have forgotten me.
15 My guests and my servant girls
      consider me a stranger;
      I am a foreigner in their eyes.
16 I summon my servant, but he does not respond,
      even though I implore him with my own mouth.
17 My breath is repulsive to my wife;
      I am loathsome to my brothers.
18 Even youngsters have scorned me;
      when I get up, they scoff at me.
19 All my closest friends detest me;
      and those whom I love have turned against me.
20 My bones stick to my skin and my flesh;
      I have escaped alive with only the skin of my teeth.
Note the range of imagery used to describe how Job felt.









Q: Of all the people around Job, who is so much as raising a hand to comfort him?

Q: What is it that can receive (or would perceive) as comfort?

Job appeals to his friends

21 Have pity on me, my friends, have pity on me,
      for the hand of God has struck me.
22 Why do you pursue me like God does?
      Will you never be satiated with my flesh?
23 “O that my words were written down,
      O that they were written on a scroll,
24 that with an iron chisel and with lead
      they were engraved in a rock forever!


Q: Why would Job reach out to them after all they put him through?


Q: Why would he want his words written down forever? (to prove his innocence for posterity?)

Job’s hope

25 As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,
      and that as the last
      he will stand upon the earth.
26 And after my skin has been destroyed,
      yet in my flesh I will see God,
27 whom I will see for myself,
      and whom my own eyes will behold,
      and not another.
      My heart grows faint within me.


Q: Does Job believe he will be resurrected? Or is this a metaphor?

What does he believe will happen after death?
(Dead, soul sleep, spirit goes on, body is resurrected?)

“yet in my flesh” – the Hebrew phrase is “and from my flesh.”
This could mean “without my flesh,” i.e., separated from my flesh,
or “from my flesh,” i.e., in or with my flesh.
->The former view is taken by those who think Job’s vindication will come in this life, and who find the idea of a resurrection unlikely to be in Job’s mind.
->The latter view is taken by those who interpret the preceding line as meaning death and the next verse underscoring that it will be his eye that will see. This would indicate that Job’s faith rises to an unparalleled level at this point.

LXX – 25For I know that he is eternal who is about to deliver me, 26and to raise up upon the earth my skin that endures these sufferings: for these things have been accomplished to me of the Lord; 27which I am conscious of in myself, which mine eye has seen, and not another, but all have been fulfilled to me in my bosom.

Q: Is Job saying:
1) I will be restored before I die
2) When I am in the spirit and before God all will be made right and it’ll be as if I were restored in the flesh
3) I will die in this state but He will resurrect my flesh and I’ll be whole, thus proven right

Q: Has this been his point of view so far or is it evolving?  If it’s evolving what do you think is causing it?  If it’s not evolving why were his earlier discourses not “enlightened” with ideas of an afterlife.

Refer to the following other references to death:
Job 7:8-10, 21; 10:20-22; 14:10-14

Q: If Job DOES believe in an afterlife in one form or another why is he so hopeless?


v26 – Dave’s ultra literal xlation from Hebrew
“After Skin Corroded This Body See God.”

Job’s warning

28 If you say, ‘How we will pursue him,
      since the root of the trouble is found in him!’
29 Fear the sword yourselves,
      for wrath brings the punishment by the sword,
      so that you may know
      that there is judgment.”

Q: Job expects to be vindicated, what does he expect of the fate of this friends if they don’t back off?
All scripture quotations from the New English Translation (NET)
“Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. www.bible.org All rights reserved.”
 

Q: How could Job place his hope in the one that he says is not giving him justice?
 

Wed 3 Feb 2010

The Mind

Posted @ 4:49 pm      {Click to post comment} 
Category: myTooSense
The human mind is a wonderful thing.  It contains roughly 15-22 billion neurons EACH linked up with up to 10,000 synaptic connections.  In one cubic millimeter of the cerebral cortex there are roughly 1 billion synapses.
 
How does it store information?  How does it go through the stored information in order to make a “fuzzy” decision?  Why can some information be recalled and other not?  What’s going on in there when the human reaches the dream state?  Why do we sometimes react to something we know is way less then it is, but for some reason IT IS a big deal to ME.
 
I am absolutely fascinated by current theories on how the brain works.  It has been intricately designed to allow us to survive in a hostile environment.  With it we learn.  With it we process our environment.  With it we form emotions based on our beliefs.
 
It’s in this area of beliefs that I found interesting this last weekend.  Beliefs drive our emotions.  Our emotions drive our actions to the world around us.  It all starts with beliefs.  The brain does not know right or wrong, true or false.  It simply knows “a thought.”  That is why a nightmare can be so real and scary until our intellect overrides the false reality.
 
An erroneous belief can result in a life of isolation.  It can cause others to desire to get away from us as quickly as possible. It can cause us to life a life in which we are constantly sabotaging our own efforts.
 
Backtrack from actions to emotions to the underlying belief.  Fix the belief, the emotions change, the emotions change and our reaction to the world changes radically.
 
Truth needs to replace the error.  What is truth?  In this crazy world today the common belief seems to be that truth is relative to who I am.  How can that work?  How does that reform my root belief.  Truth has to be absolute and not change with the times.  Truth that changes was never truth at all.
 
It the “truth” was that the Earth was the center of the universe it caused a topsy turvey world as the “truth” changed.  Truth does not change.
 
Our minds need to find TRUTH in order to change our world.
 

Tue 2 Feb 2010

In Your Presence

Posted @ 3:28 pm      {Click to post comment} 
Category: Spiritual

“In Your Presence” by Jason Upton

This song says it all.

 

Tue 2 Feb 2010

FaceBook Recounts my Trip

Posted @ 12:23 pm      {Click to post comment} 
Category: Personal
n790209709_9721.jpg (200x170 pixels)
Dave and his grandfather, circa 1971
 
Here’s a recap of my recent road trip to the Pacific Northwest as recounted by FaceBook.  I’ve cleaned it up a bit for readability and privacy. But here you go.
 
PS – HOMM is the abbreviation for House of Myrrh Ministries.
 
I headed up north for training in the HeartRecovery process which is under the umbrella of HOMM.  Besides the obvious knowledge that was imparted, it was personally enriching.  I know that I was there because I needed to be.  I am still not sure what affect this has on where I am headed in the future.  But then I really don’t need to know.  That’s the beauty of trust.
 
THURSDAY

 

 
Dave thinks it’s more comfy sitting on a sofa than a car for 3 hours.

 
Dave goes to bed before my last 400 miles tomorrow.

 
FRIDAY
Dave resumes the great big adventure

 
Dave always forgets about the glorious beauty on I-5 between Redding and OR border!



 
Dave just passed through the state of Jefferson, almost there? Or where am I?

 
Dave does not text while driving! How can I, I’m too busy updating FaceBook. 300mi to go.

 
Dave considers what the pioneers thought as they arrived at this point on the Applegate Trail. 200mi to go!

 
Dave says that driving between the lines reminds me of coloring between the lines – sometimes you wish the lines would go away so you could see how creative you are. 100mi to go!


Dave GZ! HOMM at last.

 
Dave is very ready to settle in for the evening.

 
SATURDAY

 
Dave finds it interesting how 50% were eating in this eve but no one is here but me. If I were prone to wondering what I did wrong, I might be wondering…

 
Dave has arrived at his nighttime abode. Now time to knock that homework out before these sleepy eyes can see no more.

 
SUNDAY
Dave hides in the Truth!

 
Dave finds incredible joy in transparent worship celebrations


 

Dave S. – Dave, I just found out you were up at House of Mryrr. When are you headed back? Are you planning on sharing with us tomorrow night?


 
Dave is not disappointed, 26 hours well spent. Time to process while beginning trek home. Eugene tonight? Probably…

 
Dave rests in Eugene before trekking on tomorrow
 

Dave sings “on the road again”… Only 482mi to go as the GPS nags.


 
Dave 400mi 4 I get to squeeze my honey!

 

 
Dave arrives in CA! Fog and sanded roads on pass. Looks like I missed less fair weather between Friday and today.

 
Dave finds this extended quiet time after an experience like this past weekend is medicine for my very soul. Stopped for prayer since my last post. Shasta Lake and only 200mi to go!


 
Dave has 100mtg, good thing as I’ve eaten 5,900 calories of butter toffee peanuts (4 lbs) – don’t know if I can survive till I get home



Dave is home away from HOMM. I’d do it again next weekend.  It was worth it!

 
 

Fri 29 Jan 2010

Googling the Cone

Posted @ 6:00 am      {Click to post comment} 
Category: myTooSense
In the last 30 days this is how you, my readers, have found my site:
    1. los angeles class submarine (‎35)
    2. uss scorpion (‎23)
    3. 589 (‎22)
    4. cone of silence (‎16)
    5. 361 (‎16)
    6. swordfish (‎15)
    7. uss growler (‎15)
    8. ss20 (‎14)
    9. uss (‎13)
    10. uss thresher (‎13)
 
This top 10 list is ordered by number of searches and shows what searches yielded a click to my site.
 
Interesting that 90% are submarine related.  Glad there’s a fair number curious about the brave men who did what most never have the privilege of doing.
 

Thu 28 Jan 2010

Headed North

Posted @ 2:37 pm      {Click to post comment} 
Category: Personal
Taking a couple days off work and headed to the Pacific Northwest for ministry training.  I calculated last night that I will be driving about 10 hours each way, hopefully between the storms that have been battering the west coast, in order to participate in 25 hours of workshop sessions.  All this resulting in giving up two precious PTO days plus an entire weekend.
 
I have no doubt that the next four days will be an awesome experience from the beginning of the drive until the end of the drive.  I look forward to this weekend with great anticipation?
 
Did you note the “?” at the end of the last paragraph?  That was intentional (unlike my other typos!).  This weekend will stretch me beyond where I would go on my own.  I am drawn for reasons I do not understand.
 
Sometimes that’s the way it is.  And that’s OK.
 

Mon 25 Jan 2010

What’s your Mileage IV?: The Final installment

Posted @ 10:46 am      {Click to post comment} 
Category: myTooSense

On February 26, 2009 at 4:14pm I installed a mouse odometer on my work computer. A novelty with no purpose except entertainment value.

Here is the running status of my poor overworked mouse.

Date # days miles light years
26-Feb-09 0 0 0
11-Mar-09 13 2.011212 .000000000000358320
25-Mar-09 27 4.998836 .000000000000849457
22-Apr-09 55 9.153273 .000000000001557188
25-Jan-10 333 32.220135 .000000000005481094

Well, my mouse in its little travels has not even officially made it to the edge of space (approx. 62.1 miles)

The good news however is that my little mouse has burned 2,592 calories and it on way to be weightless!

The experiment in triviality will now be retired.

 

Fri 22 Jan 2010

Hidden In Plain Sight

Posted @ 10:00 am      {Click to post comment} 
Category: myTooSense
Look closely at the photograph.  Do you see the gardener?  Do you see the expanse of well manicured lawn interspersed with trees?  Do you see the Lockheed Burbank, California Aircraft Plant?
Hidden WWII factory in Burbank, CA
 
This photo is purported to have been taken during WWII after the Army Corps of Engineers were tasked with hiding an entire aircraft manufacturing plant.  Imagine this scene from the air.
 
Here is a BEFORE and AFTER photo of which the above photo is a close up segment.
The factory is clearly visible in the BEFORE and… well it’s not so in the AFTER.
 
Here’re a few other shots (from the inside):
 
  • Round about this story came to me…
  • Someone’s mother who worked at Lockheed relayed that, she as a younger child, remembers all this.  And to this day, it is the first pictures of it she’s seen..  Another person who lived in the area talked about being a boy, watching it all be set up like a movie studio production.  They had fake houses, trees, etc. and moved parked cars around so it looked like a residential area from the skies overhead.
 

Fri 22 Jan 2010

Gleanings from the Book of Job 15:1-17:16

Posted @ 6:50 am      {Click to post comment} 
Category: Studies
 
Each of Job’s three friends has had the opportunity to present his case.  Job responded to each of them.  At this point they are pretty sure Job is not listening to them, for whatever reason, and now they come back for round two.
 
These words are the meat of the dialog…



Eliphaz of Teman spoke a second time: “If you were truly wise, would you sound so much like a windbag, belching hot air? Would you talk nonsense in the middle of a serious argument, babbling baloney? Look at you! You trivialize religion, turn spiritual conversation into empty gossip. It’s your sin that taught you to talk this way. You chose an education in fraud. Your own words have exposed your guilt. It’s nothing I’ve said–you’ve incriminated yourself!  (Job 15:1-6)
[…]
Why do you let your emotions take over, lashing out and spitting fire, Pitting your whole being against God by letting words like this come out of your mouth?  (Job 15:12-13)
[…]
There’s a lesson here: Whoever invests in lies, gets lies for interest, Paid in full before the due date. Some investment! They’ll be like fruit frost-killed before it ripens, like buds sheared off before they bloom. The godless are fruitless–a barren crew; a life built on bribes goes up in smoke. They have sex with sin and give birth to evil. Their lives are wombs for breeding deceit.”   (Job 15:31-35)
Excerpts from Job chapter 15 – The Message (MSG)



Then Job defended himself: “I’ve had all I can take of your talk. What a bunch of miserable comforters! Is there no end to your windbag speeches? What’s your problem that you go on and on like this? If you were in my shoes, I could talk just like you. I could put together a terrific harangue and really let you have it. But I’d never do that. I’d console and comfort, make things better, not worse!  (Job 16:1-5)
[…]
“When I speak up, I feel no better; if I say nothing, that doesn’t help either. I feel worn down. God, you have wasted me totally–me and my family! You’ve shriveled me like a dried prune, showing the world that you’re against me. My gaunt face stares back at me from the mirror, a mute witness to your treatment of me.  (Job 16:6-8)
[…]
“O Earth, don’t cover up the wrong done to me! Don’t muffle my cry! There must be Someone in heaven who knows the truth about me, in highest heaven, some Attorney who can clear my name– My Champion, my Friend, while I’m weeping my eyes out before God. I appeal to the One who represents mortals before God as a neighbor stands up for a neighbor. “Only a few years are left before I set out on the road of no return. “My spirit is broken, my days used up, my grave dug and waiting.   (Job 16:18-17:1)
Excerpts from Job chapters 16 & 17 – The Message (MSG)

 


Eliphaz and Job Dialogue a Second Time
Eliphaz rebukes Job for his arrogance… and warns him

Job, you’re proving yourself unwise… or worse
Chapter 15
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:
2 “Does a wise man answer with blustery knowledge,
      or fill his belly with the east wind?
3 Does he argue with useless talk,
      with words that have no value in them?
4 But you even break off piety,
      and hinder meditation before God.
5 Your sin inspires your mouth;
      you choose the language of the crafty.
6 Your own mouth condemns you, not I;
      your own lips testify against you.
Note how Eliphaz has moved into the role as prosecutor after hearing Job’s responses to each of his three friends.
Q: What do you think is motivating him to attack Job?  He knows full well the losses Job has just encountered, what’s up?




Not only DID your sin bring this upon you but NOW you are adding to that sin.

Job, “your” wisdom is nothing
7 “Were you the first man ever born?
      Were you brought forth before the hills?
8 Do you listen in on God’s secret council?
      Do you limit wisdom to yourself?
9 What do you know that we don’t know?
      What do you understand that we don’t understand?
“Your” wisdom is nothing
10 The gray-haired and the aged are on our side,
      men far older than your father.
11 Are God’s consolations too trivial for you;
      or a word spoken in gentleness to you?
<= AUTHORITY – Rests on tradition, note it changed from “personal” revelation to “others” authority.
Q: Why do you suppose it changed?

Q: Which words were gentleness, friends or God’s?
12 Why has your heart carried you away,
      and why do your eyes flash,
13 when you turn your rage against God
      and allow such words to escape from your mouth?
<= THESIS – What’s made you vent your rage against God?

Job, Let me tell you again that man can’t be blameless
14 What is man that he should be pure,
      or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?
15 If God places no trust in his holy ones,
      if even the heavens are not pure in his eyes,
16 how much less man, who is abominable and corrupt,
      who drinks in evil like water!


Again, Eliphaz emphasizes that if the angels can’t be blameless before God, how can mortal man. (cf Job 4:18)

Implication: Job should EXPECT suffering since he’s not perfect (cf. Retribution Principle)
17 “I will explain to you;
      listen to me,
      and what I have seen, I will declare,
18 what wise men declare,
      hiding nothing,
      from the tradition of their ancestors,
19 to whom alone the land was given
      when no foreigner passed among them.
Eliphaz’ condescending attitude has changed since he first spoke (cf 4:2-4)

This is what a wicked man looks like
20 All his days the wicked man suffers torment,
      throughout the number of the years
      that are stored up for the tyrant.
21 Terrifying sounds fill his ears;
      in a time of peace marauders attack him.
22 He does not expect to escape from darkness;
      he is marked for the sword;
23 he wanders about — food for vultures;
      he knows that the day of darkness is at hand.
24 Distress and anguish terrify him;
      they prevail against him
      like a king ready to launch an attack,
25 for he stretches out his hand against God,
      and vaunts himself against the Almighty,
26 defiantly charging against him
      with a thick, strong shield!
27 Because he covered his face with fat,
      and made his hips bulge with fat,
28 he lived in ruined towns
      and in houses where no one lives,
      where they are ready to crumble into heaps.
29 He will not grow rich,
      and his wealth will not endure,
      nor will his possessions spread over the land.
30 He will not escape the darkness;
      a flame will wither his shoots
      and he will depart
      by the breath of God’s mouth.
31 Let him not trust in what is worthless,
      deceiving himself;
      for worthlessness will be his reward.
Q: Do you think he is implying that suffering is only for the wicked?  If so, what is he telling Job about his fate?

Note the “stinging” ways in which he confronts Job with what a wicked man can expect.  These describe Job!
“suffers torment”
“terrifying sounds” – 3 friends, maybe?
“marauders attack”
“distress and anguish”
“stretches his hand against God”
“vaunts himself against Almighty”
“charges God”


“fat” = prosperity



“wealth will not endure”
32 Before his time he will be paid in full,
      and his branches will not flourish.
33 Like a vine he will let his sour grapes fall,
      and like an olive tree
      he will shed his blossoms.
34 For the company of the godless is barren,
      and fire consumes the tents of those who accept bribes.
35 They conceive trouble and bring forth evil;
      their belly prepares deception.”
No advice here, only pronouncement that Job is getting paid back for his acts

Some commentaries hold that Eliphaz DOES NOT think Job falls into the class of “the wicked,” therefore he is not implying that Job is seeing the full wrath of someone who is wicked.  These commentaries say that Eliphaz is only giving an example of what the fate of the wicked look like.

Q: What do you think of this theory based on the text?

POINT: Commentaries are only man’s interpretation, always keep your finger on the text and think critically.  Never accept a study note, commentary as truth – always test ALL against scripture.
1 Thes 5:19-21 “Test all things”
1 Cor 4:4-6 “Do not go beyond what is written”
Job rebukes his friends compassion and expresses weariness before God
What’s wrong with you all?
Chapter 16
1 Then Job replied:
2 “I have heard many things like these before.
      What miserable comforters are you all!
3 Will there be an end to your windy words?
      Or what provokes you that you answer?
4 I also could speak like you,
      if you were in my place;
      I could pile up words against you
      and I could shake my head at you.
5 But I would strengthen you with my words;
      comfort from my lips would bring you relief.
6 “But if I speak, my pain is not relieved,
      and if I refrain from speaking
      — how much of it goes away?






I could, but I won’t




Q: What is Job saying they “should” do?
See Job 6:14

God, this is my state
7 Surely now he has worn me out,
      you have devastated my entire household.
8 You have seized me,
      and it has become a witness;
      my leanness has risen up against me
      and testifies against me.
9 His anger has torn me and persecuted me;
      he has gnashed at me with his teeth;
      my adversary locks his eyes on me.
10 People have opened their mouths against me,
      they have struck my cheek in scorn;
      they unite together against me.
11 God abandons me to evil men,
      and throws me into the hands of wicked men.
12 I was in peace, and he has shattered me.
      He has seized me by the neck and crushed me.
      He has made me his target;
13 his archers surround me.
      Without pity he pierces my kidneys
      and pours out my gall on the ground.
14 He breaks through against me, time and time again;
      he rushes against me like a warrior.
15 I have sewed sackcloth on my skin,
      and buried my horn in the dust;
16 my face is reddened because of weeping,
      and on my eyelids there is a deep darkness,
17 although there is no violence in my hands
      and my prayer is pure.












Q: Is Job equating his friends to “evil men?”

Q: Do you hear more than a sense of grieving, a sense of oppression?


God, you are my witness, advocate, intercessor, and friend
18 “O earth, do not cover my blood,
      nor let there be a secret place for my cry.
19 Even now my witness is in heaven;
      my advocate is on high.
20 My intercessor is my friend
      as my eyes pour out tears to God;
21 and he contends with God on behalf of man
      as a man pleads for his friend.
Note the major translational differences:
“Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And my advocate is on high. “My friends are my scoffers; My eye weeps to God. “O that a man might plead with God As a man with his neighbor! Job 16:19-21 (NASB)

Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend. Job 16:19-21 (NIV)

Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high. My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God. O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!   Job 16:19-21 (KJV)

Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; and he contends with God on behalf of man as a man pleads for his friend.   Job 16:19-21 (NET)

Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and he who testifies for me is on high. My friends scorn me; my eye pours out tears to God, that he would argue the case of a man with God, as a son of man does with his neighbor.
Job 16:19-21 (ESV)

Q: Who is his witness?
Who is contending with God on his behalf?

My spirit is broken…
22 For the years that lie ahead are few,
      and then I will go on the way of no return.
Chapter 17
1 My spirit is broken,
      my days have faded out,
      the grave awaits me.
2 Surely mockery is with me;
      my eyes must dwell on their hostility.
3 Make then my pledge with you.
      Who else will put up security for me?
4 Because you have closed their minds to understanding,
      therefore you will not exalt them.
5 If a man denounces his friends for personal gain,
      the eyes of his children will fail.
6 He has made me a byword to people,
      I am the one in whose face they spit.
7 My eyes have grown dim with grief;
      my whole frame is but a shadow.
8 Upright men are appalled at this;
      the innocent man is troubled with the godless.
9 But the righteous man holds to his way,
      and the one with clean hands grows stronger.

Again, Job lays out the misery he is destined to endure



“mockers” = friends

“pledge… security” – again note legal terms.  He puts himself into the hands of the judge and asks to be treated fairly
10 “But turn, all of you, and come now!
      I will not find a wise man among you.
11 My days have passed, my plans are shattered,
      even the desires of my heart.
12 These men change night into day;
      they say, ‘The light is near
      in the face of darkness.’
13 If I hope for the grave to be my home,
      if I spread out my bed in darkness,
14 If I cry to corruption, ‘You are my father,’
      and to the worm, ‘My Mother,’ or ‘My sister,’
15 where then is my hope?
      And my hope, who sees it?
16 Will it go down to the barred gates of death?
      Will we descend together into the dust?”
Job turns the tables on his friends and admonishes them to turn from their ways.
All scripture quotations from the New English Translation (NET)
“Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. www.bible.org All rights reserved.”

Q: When have you been in a place where you’ve seen a friend hurting themselves and you’ve said something and they seemed to ignore it?  What did you do next?
 

Tue 19 Jan 2010

Sanity in a Weighty World

Posted @ 4:09 pm      {Click to post comment} 
Category: Personal
These days so many things are occupying my mind that it’s seems hard to have time to thing about a mundane blog.  Well, that’s not exactly accurate.  The truth is it’s not many, it’s the magnitude of the things I have to think about.  Much of it is big tasks, tasks that require me to think outside myself and determine the greater good for others.  It can be pretty daunting.
 
As I re-read the previous paragraph I guess it sounds like I’m world leader status trying to determine how to deal with a crisis of world proportions.  Just in case you were wondering, that’s not it.  Not even close.  Anyway, there are weighty things in my world.  Things I desire to put my best effort into.  Things that affect others and not just my little island.
 
Just thought I’d make a note as to why this blogging hobby may have seemed to slow down.
 
PS- I spent a significant portion of this previous week reading a fictional novel for no other reason than it seems fun and fun is what keeps one sane.
 

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